A strict patriarch exercises almost absolute control over his family and uses it to impose his vision of order and conservative family values. However, the budding sexuality of some of his children causes the union to unravel.

Rodrigo Catano seeks to impose in his family a Porfirian order. One day a door to door salesman, Roberto del Hierro, comes into the house to sell an American vacuum cleaner from the "Bright O'Home" company. Maru, Mr. Catano's daughter, watches Roberto while he demonstrates the new machine. Roberto leaves and says he will come back to explain Mr. Catano about the vacuum cleaner. Mr. Catano is very upset because a man has been in his house without him been present. Nevertheless, with fast and intelligent talk, Roberto sells him the vacuum cleaner and, later on, a refrigerator. Maru is captivated by Roberto and they fall in love. Mr. Catano is furious when Roberto announces to him he will marry Maru.—J.C. Lelo de Larrea <[email protected]>